Dispenser



Jan. 31, 1939.

D. G. F'UDERBAUGH DsPENsER Filed Aug. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 31, 1939,. D. G. PUDERBAUGH 2,145,779

DISPENSER Filed Aug. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheec 2 Attorneys 1, ,places as well as Patented Jan. 31, 1939v UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE f 2,145,779v DISPENSER Davia G. Puaerbaugh, Altoona, Pa. Application August 26, 193s, serial No.` 226,996

l s clanes, (01.221-,785

A, invention relates to dispensers and more particularly to dispensers for toothpaste, shav- -iing cream, toilet soap cream, andother products in collapsible tubes.

, object of the present inventionvis to Aprovide a device of this character for ,use as acon- Avenience to the travelling public, ras for example for use in the washroomsof hotels and similar homes.

, Further in accordance with the present invention a dispenser of thefcharacter above mentioned embodies a novel yconstruction and arrangement through the medium of which substantiallyall of the contents of acollapsible tube or container may be ejected in a convenient and Vcomprising al construction and arrangement which is such thatthe desired quantity o f the ycontents ,mayv be ejected from the-collapsible tube or container directly onto the hand, thereflby eliminating waste. `r`25 'rhe invention together' with its objects and Y advantages will be best understood from a study of the following descriptiony taken inA connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: A

Figure l is a horizontal sectional View talen substantially onthe line I I of Figure 2. Y

, Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1.

"Figures 3 to 6 inclusive are sectional views taken substantially o nv the lines 3 3, 4 4,

r5 5, and 6 6, respectively, of Figure 2. e Figure? is a :fragmentaryY enlarged elevational view illustrating a slightly modied form of the invention, and

@Figure Bis anenlarged detail sectional View ofk aslide closure forming part of the form o1' the invention shown in Figure 7.

In accordance with the present invention the dispenser comprises a metallic'casing I equipped `withbrackets orv other suitable means through the/medium of which the dispensermay be rmounted on a wall or similar support. For the casing I there is provided a removable lidV 2.

yThebottom of the casing adjacent the front `end of thev casing is provided vwith a discharge opening 3 through which the contents of a co1- lapsible. tube pass onto the hand'or'brush of the user.

- Vertically and f'lxedly mounted within! the casing Ithrough the medium of upperand lower brackets 4, 5, is an elongated substantially'cyrin the rwashrooms of .private open end of the hopper as shown in Figure 2.

lyindrical hopper 6 adapted to accommodate therein a collapsible tube l of toothpaste, shaving cream, or other material.

The bottom of the tube, or hopper 6, is provided as at 8 to rconform to the neck-equipped 5 v end of the collapsible tube l, and from said bottom 8 has extending an integral curved, tapering discharge spout 9, the larger end of which receivesthe neck la ofv the collapsible tube l' as suggested by broken lines in Figure 3.

In accordance with the present invention the seal at one end` of the collapsible tube 'l is` removed and the wall of the tube at said end is folded over the wall of the hopper 6 at the upper kAfter the collapsible tube has been thus positioned within the hopper 6 there is placed on the upper end of the hopper a flanged closure I0, which as is clear from a study of Figure 2, serves tohold said folded-over edge portion of the collapsible tube 1 engaged with the upper endl edge of the-hopper 6 and consequently to retain the collapsible tube 'l within the hopper 6 against movement vertically downwardly therein.

Forforcing the contents of the tube 'I there- 25 from and through the discharge spout 9 there is provided for movement vertically within the tube 'I` a. follower, or plunger I I.

Asbest shown in Figure 4 the plunger II comprises a disk-like body member I2 of rubber 30 or other suitable material confined between a pair of clamping plates I3, I4, and held at the desired point of radial expansion by a proper relative adjustment of the plates I3 and I4; it beingY noted, in that connection, that the plates I3 and I4 are connected by an adjusting screw I5 that has the head thereof countersunk in the plate I4 and the shank thereof threadedly engaged with a boss provided therefor on the plate I3, Ythe body member I2 of the plunger be- 40 ing provided with a suitable opening to accommodate the screw as shown.

For actuating the plunger, or'follower EI to cause the latter, step-by-step, to move downwardly within the tube 1 for ejeoting, succes- 45 sively, predetermined quantities of the tube contents, there is provided a cross head IB which consists of two strips of Wood or other suitable material secured together through the medium of screws or other fastening elements I'I.

The crossheadfIS is guided in its Vertical movement through the medium of vertical guide elements I8 provided therefor internally of the casing I and at opposite sides of the casing. vzrThe lstrips forming the crosshead I6 accom- 55 modate between the ends thereof the guide members I8 as clearly shown in Figure 5, and said crosshead, in turn is accommodated in vertical slots I9 provided therefor in diametrically opposite sides of the cylinder, or hopper 6.

The plunger II is connected to the crosshead I6 to move therewith through the medium. of an attaching flange 26 provided on the plate I3 and accommodated between the strips forming the crosshead. Said flange is secured to the crosshead I6 and between the strips thereof `through the medium of screws or other suitable fastening elements 2|.

Downward movement of the crosshead I6 and plunger II is effected bythe winding of flat springs 22 onto flanged drums 23. Drums 23 are mounted on ashaft 24 suitably journaled i-n the lower portion of the casing 4. At one end thereof the spring strips 22 are secured to the crosshead and between the strips thereof throughthe medium of the aforementioned screws I1. It will thus be seen that as the strips 22 wind on vthe drums 23 crosshead I6, together with plunger II will move downwardly thus forcing some ofthe contents of the tube 1 through the discharge spout 9.

In order that the collapsible tube 1 will not interfere with the downward movement of crosshead I6 and associated follower, or plunger I'I m said crosshead I6 has secured between the strips thereof through the medium of screws or other suitable fastening elements double-edge knives, or cutting blades 25.V The blades 25, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6, ar-e reversible and are mounted on the crosshead at a suitable angle so as to split the tube 1 longitudinally as the crosshead moves downwardly. Obviously the crosshead I6 will follow in the slits formed by. the

v cutting action of the knives, or'blades 25,'and thus the tube 1 will not interfere with the smooth operation of the device.

For winding the spring ribbons or strips 22 "on the drums 23 in 'a step-by-step manner thus effecting discharge ofthe contents ofthe vcollapsible tube 1 in predetermined bulks, there is mounted on the shaft 24 to rotate .therewith a ratchet wheel 26. A manually operable forked linger lever 21 has the forked end vthereof vengaged with the shaft 24 in a manner to rotate about the shaft 24 as an axis; and at the 'forked end thereof the lever 21 is provided with a pivoted dog 28 biased into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26 through the medium of a readily removable spring 29. The knob-equipped, o-r free end of the lever. 21 works through a suitable slot 39 provided therefor in the front wall of the casing I and said end of the lever is normally urged upwardly through the medium of a suitably anchored spring 3| arranged within the casing I and suitably connected with the lever as shown in Figure 3. It will thus be seen that upon each downward movement of the lever 21 against the action of spring 3|' piston., or follower II will move downwardly Within the collapsible tube 1 forcing some of the contents of the tube therefrom and through the discharge neck 9 to pass from the -neck through the opening 3 onto the hand o-r brush -of the user.

For the outlet end of the discharge spout 9 there is provided, in the form vof the invention shown in Figure 3, a hinged closure -32 whilein the form of the inventionY shown in Figures 7 and 8 the closure is in thev form of aslide closure 33.

Also, in each .form of the invention, land for operating the spout closure, there is provided a rocker arm 34 that is rockable on a rod 35 suitably mounted within the casing I. One end of the rocker arm 34 is pivotally connected with the lever 21 through the medium of a link 36. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3 the other end of the rocker arm 34 is connected with the hinged closure 32 through the medium of a link 31.

It will thus be seen that as the lever 21 is pushed -downwardly against the action of spring 3| for operating the follower, or plunger II to discharge a predetermined amount of the contents of the tube 1 arm 34 will rock to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 thus causing the closure 32 to swing upwardly to the dotted line position shown in said ligure and thereby permit some of the contents of the tube 1 to discharge from the spout 9 to fall through the opening 3 onto vthe hand or brush of the user.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 the spout 9 is provided at the discharge end thereof with opposed guides 38 between which operates the slide closure 33. Slide closure 33 is pivotally connected with the rocker arm 34 through the medium of a link 39.

It will thus be seen that in the form of the invention shown in Figure 7 when the lever 21 is lowered or depressed to effect the discharge of some of the contents of the tube 1 movement of the rocker arm 34 resulting from the depressing of the lever 21 is transmitted-to the slide 33 causing the latter tol move upwardly between the guides 38 fo-r luncovering the discharge end of the spout 9 permitting certain of the contents to pass from the spout.

Downward movement of the crosshead I and associated plunger, or follower II is limited through the medium of suitable stops 49 provided on the lguides I8 and arranged in the path of spacer blocks 4I disposed between the strips forming the crosshead I6 and inwardly from the ends of the strips as will be clear from a study oi Figures 2 and 5.

Y It willralso be noted that the cap I6 is provided with an apertured lug 42 to facilitate the removal of the cap when desired.

After the contents of a tube 1 have been completely discharged therefrom the cover 2 of casing I is removed after which the cap I6 is removed from the hopper or tube 6. Next the spring 29 is disengaged from the dog 28 and the operator then by placing the hand downwardly inside the container I and engaging the crosshead I 6 may readily elevate the' crosshead and plunger Il to the extent required for the placing of a filled collapsible tube within the tube or hopper 6. After the collapsible tube has thus been placed within the hopper Ilv the knives are forced downwardly, splitting the tube 1 and to a point below the upper end of the tube 3 after which cap I6 is replaced.

The parts are now in position and the lever 21 of the dispenser then operated as desired for dispensing the contents of the tube in a manner hereinbefore explained.

ing the position of the slide closure, as for exu ample by arranging the same relative to the opening in the bottom of the casing I, the contents of the collapsible tube may be cut clean al- ,y neck of a collapsible tube, means for supporting acollapsible tube substantially perpendicularly relative tothe dischargespout, a pair of opposed guides, a crosshead movable vertically between said guides and engaging therewith, a plunger mounted on the crosshead and adapted to be inserted within the collapsible tube at the sealed end of the latter after the seal of said tube has been removed, knives carried by the crosshead for splitting the tube longitudinally incidental to a downward movement of the crosshead andY in advance of said crosshead, and manually oper- 'able means connected with the crosshead for causing the latter together with the plunger t move downwardly relative to the collapsible tube rfor forcing the contents of the latter therefrom `and through said discharge spout.

2. A dispenser comprising a relatively fixed discharge spout provided at the discharge end with a closure, and equipped at the opposite end to receive the discharge neck of a container, an ejector for disposition within a container to force the contents therefrom and through said spout,

a rotary shaft disposed transversely of the discharge spout and'in proximity thereto, an operating lever connected with said shaft to rotate on the shaft as a pivot, a ratchet wheel fixed on j the shaft to rotate therewith, a spring-biased dog carried by said lever and engaging the ratchet teeth for transmitting movement of the lever to the shaft for rotating the latter step-by-step,

devices windable on said shaft and connected with said ejector for forcing the ejector longitudinally of the container incidental to awinding of said elements on said shaft as said shaft rotates stepby-step, and means operatively connecting the yses closure with said lever Wherebymovement of the lever is transmitted to the closure for moving the closure to open position simultaneously with a partial rotation of said shaft resulting from a movement of said lever in one direction.

3. A dispenser comprising a casing, a discharge spout mounted in said casing and connectible `with a container for receiving the contents thereof, ymeans for holding the upper end of the container, a pairof opposed guides mounted vertically in said casing, a crosshead slidable between the guides, a follower on said crosshead movable therewith longitudinally of the container for forcing the contents of the container through said discharge spout, drums rotatably mounted in said casing and spring-ribbons windable on the drums and connected at one end with the crosshead for causing movement of the crosshead incidental to a winding of said ribbons on the drums.

4. A dispenser comprising a casing, an elongated hopper mounted in said casing and provided at the lower end thereof with a discharge spout, said hopper adapted to accommodate therein a container disposed to discharge the contents thereof into said discharge spout, said hopper being provided with opposed longitudinal slots, opposed guide members mounted in the casing, a crosshead operable in said slots and slidable between said guides, a follower on said crosshead and movable therewith interiorly of the container for forcing the contents of the latter therefrom, knives on the crosshead and working in said slots for slitting the container in advance of the crosshead and incidental to a downward movement of the crosshead, and means for actuating the crosshead.

5. A dispenser comprising a casing, an elongated hopper mounted in said casing and provided at the lower end thereof with a discharge spout, said hopper adapted to accommodate therein a container disposed to discharge the contents thereof into said discharge spout', said hopper being provided with opposed longitudinal slots, opposed guide members mounted in the casing, a crosshead operable in said slots and slidable between said guides, a follower on said crosshead and movable therewith interiorly of the container for forcing the contents of the latter therefrom, knives on the crosshead and working in said slots for slitting the container in. advance of the crosshead and incidental to a downward movement of the crosshead, a closure for the discharge spout at the outlet end of the latter, and means connected with the crosshead and said closure for operating the crosshead and closure simultaneously.

6. A dispenser comprising a casing, an elongated hopper mounted in said casing and provided at the lower end thereof with a discharge spout, said hopper adapted to accommodate therein a container disposed to discharge the contents thereof into said discharge spout, said hopper being provided with opposed longitudinal slots, opposed guide members mounted in the casing, a crosshead operable in said slots and slidable between said guides, a follower on said crosshead and movable therewith interiorly of the container for forcing the contents of the latter therefrom, knives on the crosshead and working in said slots for slitting the container in advance of the crosshead and incidental to a downward movement of the crosshead, a closure for the discharge spout at the outlet end of the latter, and means connected with the crosshead and said closure for operating the crosshead and closure simultaneously, said means including drums rotatably mounted in the casing, ribbons windable on the drums and connected to the crosshead, aratchet wheel operatively associated with the drums, a lever pivotally mounted in the casing, anda spring-biased pawl carried by the lever and engaging the ratchet wheel for actuating said drums.

DAVID G. PUDERBAUGH. 

